Concord, NC to Neuse Forest, NC is 240.6 miles and takes about 5h 7m via NC 49 and East New Bern Road, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within North Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a manageable drive that primarily uses state highways. Given the duration and distance, it’s a good candidate for a single-day trip, but plan for a mix of road types along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.3 miles from Concord, NC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NC 49
41.1 mi
54m
East New Bern Road
33.4 mi
36m
Jordan Road
24.3 mi
35m
Triangle Expressway
22 mi
23m
US 70
21.2 mi
25m
US 64
21 mi
27m
Goldsboro Bypass
19.8 mi
21m
US 70 BYP
14.3 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
NC 49
— 41.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Concord, NC and Neuse Forest, NC.
1
Start on Spring Street Southwest
0.1 mi·21 sec·Spring Street Southwest
2
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·24 sec·Corban Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on NC 73
3.9 mi·6 min·Corban Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on NC 73
3.8 mi·5 min·NC 73
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto NC 49
41 mi·53 min·NC 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NC 49
0.2 mi·38 sec·NC 49
8
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
3.5 mi·6 min·West Dixie Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 64 BUS; NC 49
7.1 mi·10 min·Richard K. Pugh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 64; NC 49
24 mi·35 min·Jordan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
21 mi·27 min·US 64
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NC 540 Toll SouthUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto NC 540 Toll
22 mi·23 min·Triangle Expressway
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 42 East: Smithfield
16
Merge onto I 42
8.7 mi·9 min·Clayton Bypass Scenic Byway
17
Continue on US 70
7.6 mi·9 min·US 70
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
14 mi·19 min·US 70 BYP
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·2 min·US 70
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on I 42
20 mi·21 min·Goldsboro Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 70
11 mi·13 min·US 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto US 70; US 258
3.1 mi·4 min·West New Bern Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on US 70; NC 58
33 mi·36 min·East New Bern Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70
11 mi·14 min·Freedom Memorial Bridge
25
Turn left onto Stately Pines Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Stately Pines Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Pioneer Trail
0.2 mi·53 sec·Pioneer Trail
27
Arrive at destination
Pioneer Trail
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Concord, NC in the morning to give yourself ample daylight. The route covers 240.6 miles and has an estimated fuel cost of $36, so ensure your tank is full before departing. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads, as service stations might be less frequent than on major interstates.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.3 miles from Concord, NC, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Neuse Forest, NC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Concord, NC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Concord, NC
This is one driving day of about 240.6 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Concord, NC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NC 49 for about 41.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 144.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Corban Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto Corban Avenue Southwest
Navigation decision point
5
8.2 mi into trip|~13m in|NC 49
Merge onto NC 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
84.1 mi into trip|~2h in|US 64
Keep slight left at fork onto US 64
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward NC 540 Toll South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NC 540 Toll South
6
144.7 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|US 70 BYP
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70 BYP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.22 one way
$76.44 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$41.68
$83.36
premium
$4.78
$45.28
$90.56
diesel
$6.18
$58.53
$117.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.26
$11.55
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.68
$15.40
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Concord, NC
Morning
in Concord on Tuesday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NNE 7 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 19 at 8:05AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Neuse Forest, NC
Morning
in Neuse Forest on Tuesday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 19 at 8:05AM EDT until October 20 at 1:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about half of this 240.6-mile drive on highways, with the other 51% on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 41.1 miles on NC 49. Expect to transition from highway cruising to more local surface roads as you get closer to Neuse Forest. This means a mix of faster driving and more frequent intersections or lower speed limits.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on NC 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Corban Avenue Southwest.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 240.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (NC 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.1 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Concord is a city in North Carolina and fast-growing bedroom community of the major city of Charlotte. In 2020, the population was around 107,000, making it the second largest city of the Charlotte Metro.
Top landmarks
•Barber–Scotia College — historically black college in Concord, North Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 240.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.1 miles on NC 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Neuse Forest, NC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Corban Avenue Southwest): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (NC 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.1 miles (US 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Neuse Forest, NC before the return drive.
